this is an article i found while surfing the arrl ham radio website, i found it interesting, so i copied and pasted it. food for thought:

Snowbound ham uses 2-meter H-T to call for help: Suffering recently from bronchitis and pneumonia, Jim Stewart, KK7VL, a homesteader in a secluded area near Bettas Pass, Washington, used his 2-meter hand-held to summon help. Stewart called his friend, Jim Flint, W7TXU, on the Kittitas County Repeater Association's repeater, advising him of his worsening condition and requesting assistance. Flint, a member of the Kittitas County Search and Rescue team, enlisted the help of Deputy Sheriff Robb Lipp. But, snowdrifts prevented them from reaching Stewart's home. A snowmobiler passing by took the rescuers to Stewart's house. Lipp then used his GPS and radio to guide a rescue helicopter to the scene, and Stewart was airlifted to a hospital in Yakima. "Many of our present rescue team members are already hams," said Flint, "and as a result of this rescue being reported on local radio, several people have called and asked to join our team, and to learn more about Amateur Radio."--The Daily Record (Ellensburg, Washington)

everyone take care and be safe, careful and warm this cold winter.

de N5USS gene

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), December 27, 2000

Answers

Response to something interesting

Hey Gene! Kins refreshing to read something about a fellow ham that we've know for a long time. Hams are always helpin out somebody without thought for pay or even thanks. Now more than ever it's so easy to obtain a ham "ticket" that everybody oughta have one. hoot. de KA9JYN . Matt. 24:44

-- old hoot gibson. (hoot@pcinetwork.com), December 27, 2000.

Response to something interesting

I don't disagree with the "ham" radio, but what in the name of **?# is the gov't doing regulating the use of a communication device by a private citizen. Why don't cell phones require a license, like CB's did till everyone ignored the law? I have a radio I use when in the mountains during the summer and find it somewhat useful.

-- JLS in NW AZ (stalkingbull007@AOL.com), December 28, 2000.

Response to something interesting

Not to sound like a smarta** Just doing there job. Ham radio is a hobby no business allowed on its bands. CB in my area is almost useless due to current sunspot cycle. The new MURS looks interesting if they would open up a few more channels. Hey I read that a guy got lost on a mountain and used a FRS walkie-talkie to get help.

Hams often help in storms and natural disasters.

KE4SUB

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), January 02, 2001.

Response to something interesting

JLS, someone, wouldn't have to be the FCC, has to keep track of bandwidths and limitations thereof, because if you crank up your watts too high in the wrong bandwidth, you can really screw up everyones CB, radio, and TV (although TV won't be missed by me) reception in the near vicinity, how big a vicinity depends on output of transmitter, of course.

I know this well due to fact that a neighboor a mile way can wreck havoc on our radio reception when his transmitter is cranked up, I really don't want to hear old Wilbert's every word on the airwaves when all I want to hear is NPR and the weather report!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), January 02, 2001.